William w



(No Mbdel W. W. WETMORE.

CARTRIDGE RELOADING IMPLEMENT N0.37-6,930. v Patented Jam-24,1888.

N. PETERS, PhnQn-Lilbvxraphar. Washington. DZC.

NITED STATES PATENT Critics.

WILLIAM W. WETMORE, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CARTRIDGE=REL OADING IMPLEMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 376,930, dated January 24, 1888.

Application filed November 21, 1887. Serial No 255,700. (No model.)

.To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM WV. VVET- MORE, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, haveinvented a new Improvement in Reloading Implements; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to bea full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part ofthis specification, and represent, in-

Figure 1, a sectional side View showing the two levers as in the open position as when in g operation; Fig. 2, a vertical section through the block, showing the cartridge in its seat and the screw engaged with the block, enlarged; Fig. 3, a perspective view of the block detached; Fig. 4, a modification in the engagement between the block and screw.

This invention relates to an improvement in implements for reloading cartridges for firearms.

In the use of metallic shells in fire-arms it is impossible that the shells shall so perfectly fit the chamber in the arm that explosion will not to some extent expand the shell, so that its reinsertion into the barrel is difficult unless the shell be reshaped. Again, it is desirable that the completely-loaded shells, including the bullets, shall be of a uniform length-that is, that the bullets shall be inserted to the same extent into the shells.

The object of my invention is to produce an implement in which the above mentioned objects shall be attained.

A represents the stock or body of the reloading-implement. To its upper end a lever, B, is hinged upon a pivot, C, so as to swing in a plane parallel with the plane of the body, and as from the open position in Fig. 1 to the closed position shown in broken lines in the same figure. In the open position this lever stands at substantially right angles to the stock and serves as a handle by which to hold the stock.

The stockis constructed with a transverse head, D, at the lever end, which is internal] y screw-threaded, andinto which the settingscrew E is introduced, and so as to work through the head by the rotation of the screw.

To the upper or head end of the screw alever, F, is hinged upon a pivot, G, which adapts the said lever to stand at substantially right angles to the axis of the screw or be turned 5 down parallel therewith,as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 1-that is, both levers swing in a plane parallel with the axis of the screw. At the opposite or lower end of the stock. is a transversely -proj ecting seat, H, to support the J represents the resetting-block, which is constructed with a vertical recess opening from its lower end, corresponding to the external shape of the completely-loaded cartridge, as represented in Fig. 2.

The upper end of the block J is constructed with a transverse undercut recess, K, (see Fig. 3,) this under-cut terminating concentrically with the axis of the block. The lower end of the screw E is constructedwith a T-shaped" tip, L, which corresponds to the undercut recess K, and so that the block may be set into, I engagement with the T-shaped end of the screw, and so as to be engaged with the screw, that the said block will move in an axial di rection under the rotation of the screw, either toward or from theseat H, according to the directionin which the screw is rotated.

The shell to be reloaded, having its powder and ball placed therein, is set into the lower end of the block J, as represented in Fig. 2, 0 the shell ordinarily being somewhat larger than the interior of the block J, so that the head of the shell will project below the lower end of the block. The block, with the shell, is then set into the stock, the flange of the 5 shell entering the undercut recess I in the seat, while the undercut recess in the upper end of the stock J is interlocked with the end of the screw. Then the screw is turned to force the block down onto the loaded shell and to its extreme down position, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 2. This downward movement present invention.

brings the ball home, and at the same time reshapes the exterior of the shell to correspond with the interior of the block, and consequently to that of the chamber in the arm to which it is to be introduced. In thus using this reloading or resetting implement the operator turns both levers into the horizontal position, as represented in Fig. 1, and takes one lever in one hand and the other in the other hand, and which, through the action of the screw, enables him to exert a great and sufficient power upon the block J to force it upon the shell and bring the whole cartridge to the required shape and condition. After the work upon the cartridge has been completed, the rotation of the screw is made in'the opposite direction, and which, under the engagement of the screw with the block and the cartridge with its seat, draws the block from the cartridge so far at least as to make the final removal of the shell from the block easy.

One or more supports, M, are formed upon the stock above the seat for the block J.

When not required for use, the levers are turned down parallel with the stock, as represented in broken lines, Fig. 1, which brings the machine into its contracted position, so that in this condition it occupies but a very small space. I

It is desirable to limit the extent of movement of the block under the action of the screw. To this end I apply set-nuts N to the screw above the head D, and so that the nuts will come to a bearing thereon when the required action of the screw is attained.

In an instrument of this character it is desirable that it shall possess a capacity for setting the primers. To this end a transverse opening, P, is made through. the stock of a size corresponding to the shell, and so that the shell may be set through that opening, leaving its head toward the lever B. On the lever B a stud or projection, R, is formed, which is concentric with the opening P when the lever is in its closed position.

To apply the primer it is first placed in the shell and the shell introduced through the opening P. Then the lever B, brought down upon the projection R, coming directlyiupon the primer, forces the primer home to its seat in the head. This is a common expedient in this class of implements, and, while desirable, does not constitute an essential feature of my Under the compressing action of the block J the seat II is constructed with an opening, S, through it concentric with the head of the cartridge, and so that the to the screw and the T shape to the end of the block, as seen in Fig. 4;. In this case the undercut recess is formed in a block hung to the end of the screw, so as to slide freely on the stock under the movement of the screw, but without rotation, and as clearly indicated in Fig. 4.

I do not claim, broadly, a stock constructed with the seat and head, combined with the screw and the two levers hinged thereto, with a removablecartridgeblock,asthis combination, broadly considered, is the invention of another, and is the subject of an application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 256,522. Nor do I wish to be understood as claiming anything.

shown or described in the said application, the

essential feature of my invention being the construction of the cartridge-block and the forcing-screw upon their adjacent ends so as to interlock the one with the other, whereby the forcing-screw may serve not only to force the block onto the cartridge for resizing, but to draw the block from the cartridge after resizing, the seat on the stock being adapted to engage the head of the cartridge.

The combination of the stock A,constructed with a transversely-projecting seat, H, having an undercut recess, I, therein corresponding to the flange of the shell, the said stock also constructed with a transversely projecting head, D, at the opposite end, the lever B, hinged to the said stock, the screw E through the said head D, alever, F, hinged to the said screw, the said two levers arranged to swing in a plane substantially parallel with the axis of the screw, and the block J, having a'recess within it corresponding substantially to the shape of the completed cartridge, the said block and screw, the one constructed with a T-shaped projection and the other with a corresponding undercut recess, substantially as described, and whereby said block and screw may be engaged, and so that said block will move axially with the screw.

WILLIAM W. WETMORE.

Witnesses:

DANIEL H. VEADER, CHAS. H. Mares. 

